Recently I signed up for DevDays London and I would like to know how people get most of the seminars like this. Skipping a session in favour of some good corridor discussion seems to be one.
But do you do some preparation, for example do you check beforehand who is coming to that seminar and try to meet them? Or do you try to lobby your own ideas to a framework developer?
I follow the Woody Allen model: 90% of success is showing up. I usually attend and get what I can out of it.
Usually I sign up because I have at least a cursory knowledge of the subject and sufficient interest to match.
Meeting most speakers beforehand is out of the question. (Bill Joy slapped me with a restraining order when I went to his house before Java One in 1999.) Or do you mean other attendees? Dev Days sounds unique because there's the possibility of a link with another person you've never met.
I don't understand what you mean by "lobby your own ideas to a framework developer".
I don't go to them. The last three I went to I only attended because our marketing department insisted I give presentations at them. You would be much better off spending the time doing some real work instead, or reading a good technical book.
Perform some preparation by making a schedule, research who/what you MUST see.
Don't be too focussed on relevance, going to sessions you normally wouldn't go to can broaden horizons unexpectedly.
For the real important talks, reserve some time after.